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The Edward James Foundation is a registered charity encompassing West Dean College - which attracts arts and conservation students from across the UK and internationally - the award-winning West Dean Gardens, West Dean Tapestry Studios, and the wider 6,400-acre West Dean Estate. After 35 years of continuous operation, the original biomass boiler serving the college required replacement, prompting the Foundation to explore the future heating and hot water options for the estate.
Commissioned by the Edward James Foundation to deliver the full project lifecycle from feasibility through to handover, we designed and supported the delivery of a 2.7km district heat network that connnected 39 buildings across the West Dean Estate - including the main college and 22 residential properties in West Dean village. To continue the Foundation's long-standing commitment to self-sufficiency, the new scheme comprises a biomass energy centre which is supplied by wood chip fuel produced on the estate itself.
Scope
We were appointed by the Edward James Foundation to undertake detailed feasibility for the replacement of the existing biomass boiler and district heat network at West Dean Estate. Following feasibility, we developed a full detailed design and specification for the 1 MW biomass energy centre, 2.7 km heat network, and 39 building connections -encompassing heat network modelling, trench design, plate heat exchanger sizing, control and operating philosophies, flow and return temperature specification, and heat loss calculations. We then provided procurement services including development of the tender pack, tender appraisal and contractor selection, before acting as Client's Engineer throughout installation, and completing commissioning, handover, and successful RHI accreditation.
Services
Detailed Feasibility, Detailed Design & Specification, Heat Network Modelling, Procurement Services, Client's Engineer, Commissioning, Handover, RHI Accreditation.
Solution
A 1 MW Froling biomass boiler -fuelled entirely by wood chip produced on the estate -was installed alongside 3 MW of oil backup, serving a new 2.7 km district heat network extending heat supply across the college, Victorian glasshouses, tapestry studios, and an additional 22 tenanted residential properties in West Dean village. Particular attention was paid to noise attenuation during energy centre design, with acoustic enclosures on all pump units and carefully positioned intake and ventilation louvres to minimise impact on neighbouring residents and college buildings.
“West Dean Estate has been committed to heating self-sufficiency for the past 35 years and we are proud to have made this long-term investment in the latest biomass technology,” says Alex Barron, Chief Executive, The Edward James Foundation. “The new high-tech boiler system will be much more efficient so, for the same annual fuel requirement, we have been able to extend the heating system to a greater number of tenanted properties in West Dean village in addition to the main buildings across West Dean College and Gardens.”